Recall 16V379000

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator Ruptures On Deployment

Recall Details

The passenger frontal air bag inflator may rupture on deployment, causing metal fragments to come through the air bag and injure occupants. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module free of charge to resolve the concern.

Our Quick Take

The passenger frontal air bag assembly is deployed by an inflator which contains propellant that makes the air bag deploy. This propellant may degrade over time, especially when exposed to humidity and temperature cycling. As a result, the inflator may rupture on deployment, which can send metal shrapnel through the air bag, striking vehicle occupants. This could result in serious injury or death.

What Should You Do?

Recalls on your Sprinter must be performed by a Sprinter or Dodge dealership, respectively. Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler will notify known owners of affected vehicles beginning in late June, 2016. If you do receive a notification, but wish to check to see if your vehicle is included, please contact one of your local Sprinter or Dodge dealerships. They will also check for any other uncompleted recalls on your vehicle. For best results, be prepared to provide your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to the service department consultant you speak with.

Affected Cars

Original Recall from the NHTSA

Manufacturer's Report Date

May 27, 2016

NHTSA Action Number

EA15001

Potential Number of Units Affected

5,100

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number

16V379000

Component

AIR BAGS

Summary

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, 2009-2011 Freightliner Sprinter, and 2009 Dodge Sprinter vehicles, originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in these states are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

DVUSA will notify the Freightliner owners, Mercedes-Benz will notify their owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners will be sent an interim notification around June 30, 2016. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Freightliner owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Dodge owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Notify

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Not your car? Find your recalls now:

Recall data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration